Influenza surviellance in Rio de Janeiro between 1980-1981: a virological and serological study

Laboratory surveillance of influenza has shown a low virus activity in Rio de Janeiro during 1980 and 1981. A few influenza A (H3N2) viruses were isolated in both years during the winter months. Serological investigations showed that this subtype has circulated mostly among children under 10 years of age. No H1N1 virus was isolated but an increase in the proportion of adults with antibody to his virus was noted in sera collected in 1981. Influenza B virus was isolated from children in the spring of 1981 and again an increase was noted in the proportion of adults with antibody to this virus.

Epidemiological pattern and mortality rates for hepatitis A in Brazil, 1980-2002: a review

The prevalence of hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection is high in developing countries, in which low standards of sanitation promote the transmission of the virus. In Latin America, which is considered an area of high HAV endemicity, most HAV-positive individuals are infected in early childhood. However, recent studies have shown that prevalence rates are decreasing. Herein, we review the data on HAV prevalence and outbreaks available in scientific databases. We also use official government data in order to evaluate mortality rates in Brazil over the last two decades. Studies conducted in the northernmost regions of Brazil have indicated that, although improved hygiene has led to a reduction in childhood exposure to HAV, the greatest exposure still occurs early in life. In the Southeastern region, the persistence of circulating HAV has generated outbreaks among individuals of low socioeconomic status, despite adequate sanitation. Nationwide, hepatitis A mortality rates declined progressively from 1980 to 2002. During that period, mortality rates in the Northern region consistently exceeded the mean national rate and those for other regions. Excluding the North, the rates in all regions were comparable. Nevertheless, the trend toward decline observed in the South was paralleled by a similar trend in the North.

Avaliação do potencial erosivo das chuvas em Urussanga, SC, no período de 1980 a 2012

O conhecimento do potencial erosivo das chuvas e a sua distribuição ao longo do ano contribuem para o planejamento de práticas de manejo e a conservação do solo, que visam a redução da erosão hídrica, diminuindo as perdas de solo e aumentando a produção agrícola. Este trabalho teve como objetivo caracterizar as chuvas da região de Urussanga, SC, com relação ao potencial erosivo, determinando os Índices de Erosividade mensais e anuais (EI30) e estabelecendo assim o fator "R" para utilização na Equação Universal de Perdas de Solo, período de retorno e probabilidade de ocorrência das chuvas erosivas, a partir dos dados de chuva de diagramas diários do pluviógrafo da Estação Meteorológica de Urussanga, de outubro de 1980 a março de 2012. As chuvas foram digitalizadas em segmentos com intensidade constante. Foi elaborado um programa computacional para a leitura dos dados digitalizados, identificação das chuvas erosivas e realização dos cálculos de erosividade. A precipitação pluvial média anual foi de 1.781,8 mm, dos quais 1.502,6 mm foram de chuvas erosivas e 279,1 mm, de não erosivas. Ocorrem em média 184,9 chuvas por ano, sendo 77,7 % não erosivas e 22,3 %, erosivas. O valor médio anual do índice EI30 é 5.665,10 MJ mm ha-1 h-1, classificando as chuvas com erosividade média a forte. A época do ano com maior erosividade é de dezembro a março. O fator "R" da USLE, para regiões do entorno com características semelhantes de Urussanga, pode ser estimado com dados de pluviometria utilizando-se a equação linear ajustada.

Changes in the ways of life of farmers in the northwest of Portugal after 1980

ABSTRACT This study analyzes the changes from 1980s in the lifestyles of families of pluriactive and exclusively agricultural farmers in the northwest of Portugal caused by the income arising from the migration of at least one member of the family to another country in the European Union and the narrowing of the labor and consumer markets among the villages, towns and cities. The theoretical framework used to analyze the changes in the way of life of the pluriactive farmers was based on Giddens' theory of structuration, which denies both the absolute determinism of the structure on the subject and the freedom of unrestrained action of these same subjects. The study was carried out with the application of a survey to 78 farmers, divided into "pluriactive" and "exclusively agricultural" farmers. The findings pointed out to a greater aquisition of modes of urban life by pluriactive farmers compared with the exclusively agricultural farmers and showed a generational bias in this process of acculturation.